Police Scotland joined British Transport Police, CEC Trading Standards, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and Neighbourhood Watch Scotland at Waverley Railway Station today for a Community Safety stall.
We provided commuters and Christmas shoppers with advice on staying safe on the train network, crime prevention during the festive period, fire safety and how to sign up for Neighbourhood Watch.
Upcoming Events:
– The Gyle Shopping Centre – Wednesday 10 December, 10:00–13:00 (Police Scotland & Neighbourhood Watch)
Nine emergency service workers and five members of the public have been presented with Brave@Heart awards by First Minister John Swinney.
Among those commended for acts of courage and bravery was an off duty firefighter who rescued two sailors on a boat which had crashed into rocks near St Andrews. Two police officers were recognised for calmly and decisively taking action against a man with a suspected firearm in West Lothian.
Another winner included a woman who saved two people from burning cars following a collision in the Scottish Borders, saving both their lives. Two children aged 11 and 9 in Aberdeen saved the life of their mother after she suffered a cardiac arrest – they called 999 and put their mum into the recovery position while following the advice of the emergency services call handler and seeking help from their neighbours.
During a ceremony at the First Minister’s official residence, Bute House in Edinburgh last night, John Swinney also presented five Brave@Heart award winners with St Andrew’s Awards in recognition of their exceptional bravery including Police Constable Aaron McCall & Police Sergeant Paul Griffiths, Nathan Foster, Damon Creevey and Ian Skinner.
Since 2010, the Brave@Heart Awards have recognised acts of bravery by staff of the blue-light services, voluntary sector rescue organisations and members of the public. The recipients each year are chosen by an independent validation panel.
First Minister John Swinney said: “One of my greatest privileges as First Minister is celebrating the remarkable people who make their communities and our society better. The Brave@Heart awards do just that as we honour extraordinary individuals who have changed lives, saved lives, and left a lasting impact on others.
“Everyone who has received an award has, in a moment that truly mattered, stepped forward with bravery and conviction. That is clear from the powerful stories shared by the validation panel, and even more so from hearing these experiences firsthand.
“With these awards, we shine a light on their courage, so that their stories can continue to inspire others. They remind us that bravery can come from anywhere, in any circumstance and that bravery can make all the difference.”
Brave@Heart Validation Panel Chair David Garbutt said: “As Chair of the First Minister’s Awards Validation Panel, I’ve been deeply honoured to hear the nominations from our emergency services about so many inspiring acts of courage and selflessness undertaken by citizens in Scotland, with ordinary people going far beyond the norm to help others.
“It’s been a truly humbling experience and a great privilege to be part of this process.”
SCOTTISH AMBULANCE SERVICE HAILS BRAVE@HEART AWARDEES
Two brave siblings who saved their mum’s life and three Scottish Ambulance Service staff have been recognised at this year’s Brave@Heart awards.
The awards celebrate acts of bravery in exceptional circumstances by blue-light services, voluntary rescue organisations and members of the public.
Youngsters Oliver Liddle and Arianna Liddle, along with SAS staff Ian Skinner, Colene Buchan and Jill Summers, all collected certificates on Tuesday (October 7) at a ceremony at Bute House, attended by the First Minister.
Oliver, 12, and Arianna, 11, of Aberdeen, provided immediate care to their mum after she had a cardiac arrest last year.
Arianna called 999 after finding Donna, who suffered a cardiac arrest, unresponsive on the floor while Oliver put her into the recovery position. After speaking to the call handler, several ambulance staff were dispatched with help arriving within six minutes.
Their award nomination said: “Without the prompt and brave action of Oliver and Arianna, Donna may not have been alive today. It was a stressful time, but Donna has made an amazing recovery.”
Iain Skinner, Advanced Paramedic based at Killin Ambulance Station, attended to a challenging incident involving a patient last year.
He was nominated by a fellow member of staff who said: “Through his quick thinking, physical intervention and bravery, Iain ensured the safety of all present and successfully managed the situation.”
Paramedics Jill Summers and Colene Buchan, both based at Fraserburgh, attended to a challenging situation involving a multi-agency response where they bravely descended an extremely high and unstable cliff to attend to a patient.
Their award nomination said: “They are a credit to the Scottish Ambulance Service and most importantly were brave, skilled and effective under extreme pressure.”
SAS Chief Executive Michael Dickson said: “The actions of all the Brave@Heart recipients are truly commendable, and they have each showed extraordinary bravery.
“They are all wonderful ambassadors for the Scottish Ambulance Service. I’d like also to commend the actions of Oliver and Arianna. Their quick-thinking saved their mum’s life.”
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has issued its tenth wildfire warning this year and urges the public to avoid the use of naked flames outdoors.A ‘very high’ risk of wildfire comes into effect from today – Wednesday, 13 August – and remains in place until Tuesday, 19 August.
The affected areas across Scotland are:
13-15 August – eastern areas
16-17 August – eastern and western areas
18-19 August – most of Scotland, including east, west, central belt and southern uplands.
Wildfires have the potential to burn for days and devastate vast areas of land and wildlife.
Group Commander Niall MacLennan is one of the SFRS Wildfire Tactical Advisers. He said: “During periods when the risk of wildfires is high, we want people to avoid using portable barbecues, discarding cigarettes on the ground or lighting campfires in or near areas of vegetation as these all pose a significant threat.
“We know the vast majority of wildfires are started by human behaviour, so acting responsibly can lower the chance of a fire starting in the first place.
“Help us protect remote and rural communities, who can be hugely impacted by wildfires, by following the safety advice and being familiar with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.”
Wildfire prevention and safety advice can be found on the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s website.
Emergency services attended a major fire on Arthur’s Seat yesterday.
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said last night: “We were alerted at 4.05pm on Sunday, 10 August, to reports of a fire in the open at Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh.
“Operations Control mobilised four fire appliances and specialist resources to the area where firefighters are working to extinguish a fire affecting a large area of gorse.
“There are no reported casualties at this time and crews remain at the scene.”
Firefighters remained onsite overnight but the fire is now under control.
Applications for wholetime firefighter roles will open on Thursday, 14 August
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) will open applications for wholetime firefighter roles on Thursday, 14 August, and is encouraging anyone interested in applying to start preparing now.
In the lead-up to the recruitment launch, SFRS will be sharing real-life stories from firefighters across Scotland, giving potential candidates first-hand look at what it means to be part of the Service.
Assistant Chief Officer Jon Henderson is the SFRS’s Director of Prevention. He said: “We want people to understand what the role truly involves, from emergency response to prevention work in our communities.
“This is more than a job, it’s a commitment to helping others, working as a team, and protecting the communities of Scotland every single day.”
We strongly encourage anyone interested to take time to ensure their application reflects their motivation, understanding of the role and suitability and apply as soon as it opens.
We have a limited number of places available in this campaign, so there will be a cap on the number of applications and the advert will close when we reach that point.
Being prepared is key; in the coming weeks those considering applying are encouraged to:
Visit the SFRS career section on our website to learn more about the role, application process and eligibility criteria.
Attend one of our engagement sessions where they can meet serving firefighters and recruitment staff and ask questions.
Follow our social media channels to hear directly from the people who do the job, their experiences, challenges, and why they love what they do.
You can access the full details on how to apply and where to access support:
Successful candidates will follow a structured selection process that includes physical assessments, an interview, and medical evaluation.
SFRS is committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities it serves and welcomes applications from all backgrounds, particularly from women, people from ethnic minority backgrounds, and members of the LGBTQ+ community, who are currently underrepresented in the Service.
Applications officially open on Thursday, 14 August, and will close when we reach the application limit.
We are hiring across Scotland, but some areas do not have job openings right now. Before applying, candidates should think about where they would be willing to work.
We will have more recruitment in the next 6 to 12 months. Check the career section on our website and social media for updates.
Recruitment engagement sessions
We are encouraging anyone interested in applying to attend one of our upcoming engagement sessions to learn more about the role, the recruitment process and what it’s like to work for the SFRS.
We will be hosting a mix of online and in-person events over the coming weeks.
Spaces are limited, so early registration is encouraged.
A teenager involved in the significant disorder within the South West of Edinburgh during Bonfire Night 2024 has been given a prison sentence.
At Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, 4 August, the 17-year-old, who cannot be named, was sentenced to one year and six months in prison for mobbing and rioting, which took place in Calder Road on 5 November.
He previously pled guilty to the Calder Road incident and a separate disorder offence that took place on Princes Street on 5 October 2024 and has so far served eight months in prison, having been remanded in custody.
Chief Superintendent David Robertson, Divisional Commander for Edinburgh said: “The scenes we witnessed in Calder Road, along with other areas of the city, last Bonfire Night were wholly unacceptable and resulted in a local car dealership having thousands of pounds worth of damage inflicted upon their vehicles, while our colleagues at the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service also had their station in the area targeted.
“This individual was an active participant in the disorder and damage that took place during this time, and he was subsequently arrested as a result of thorough inquiries conducted by local officers and CID colleagues.
“His prison sentence is a welcome outcome and should once again highlight the joint commitment of both Police Scotland and COPFS to ensure those responsible for these crimes are brought to justice for their dangerous and unacceptable actions.”
There is an extreme risk of wildfire across Scotland between Friday, 11 July and Monday, 14 July.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has urged people who live within or who may enter rural environments to exercise caution.
The extreme danger assessment – released in conjunction with the Scottish Wildfire Forum (SWF) – will be in place from Friday, 11 July until Monday, 14 July. This covers central and eastern areas on Friday, 11 July, and extends to all areas, except low-lying areas with green grass, from Saturday, 12 July, until Monday, 14 July.
Wildfires have the potential to burn for days and devastate vast areas of land and wildlife, and threaten the welfare of nearby communities.
Group Commander Raymond King is a Wildfire Tactical Advisor at the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. He said: “We are asking the public to exercise extreme caution and think twice before using anything involving a naked flame.
“Many rural and remote communities are hugely impacted by wildfires, which can cause significant damage.
“Livestock, farmland, wildlife, protected woodland, and sites of special scientific interest can all be devastated by these fires – as can the lives of people living and working in rural communities.
“These fires can also have a hugely negative impact on the environment, and the release of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.
“Human behaviour can significantly lower the chance of a wildfire starting, so it is crucial that people act safely and responsibly in rural environments and always follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.”
The primary aim is to ensure that Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) resources – including staff, stations and appliances – are matched to operational risk and demand across Scotland.
The proposed changes are spread across 14 different local authority areas and involve more than 30 fire stations.
The full list of options include: the potential closure of eight long term dormant fire stations and a further five city-based sites – two in Edinburgh, two in Glasgow and one in Dundee. Some fire stations may be merged with sites nearby.
There are also plans to repair or rebuild in some locations, as well as transfer staff and appliances to more effective locations.
Chief Officer Stuart Stevens said: “We have an opportunity for the first time since our national service was formed in 2013 to review how we provide our emergency service every minute of the day, every day of the year.
“Building a modern fire and rescue service that is fit for purpose is the reason we are bringing these proposed changes forward.
“We recognise that these 23 options represent a significant level of change. However, we have a duty to ensure that the right resources are in the right locations to meet new risks that exist within today’s communities.
“We also need to spend public money wisely. We have a backlog of repairs in our buildings, fleet and equipment that would cost more than £800 million to address and this just isn’t an option available to our service. Therefore, along with the need for sustained investment we need to consider how we operate and reduce running costs for assets that are not serving our staff or communities.
“We must also be able to adapt to meet current and future risks, such as those posed by extreme weather events or wildfires.”
Service Delivery Review – a public consultation by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
Long term dormant fire stations have been non-operational for many years due to recruitment difficulties for on call firefighters in rural places. In some of these locations, there are sheds or storage units.
Five other fire stations across Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow have been identified as potential closures or mergers because they are located close to other facilities that could provide effective cover, or the operational demand is lower than other fire stations with the same level of resources.
Implementing a day duty shift pattern in targeted areas would see wholetime firefighters working between 8am and 6pm, supported by on call firefighters outwith those times.
A nucleus crew could be placed in two locations – Galashiels in the Scottish Borders and Lesmahagow in South Lanarkshire.
A nucleus crew is made up of wholetime firefighters who can be tactically deployed across an area to carry our prevention work, provide additional resilience and respond to incidents during the day when on call availability can often be low.
Permanent solutions are being proposed following the temporary withdrawal of ten appliances in 2023, including Perth & Kinross, Fife, Lanarkshire, Inverclyde and Glasgow.
(Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group)
CO Stevens added: “These options have been developed over many months involving staff, trade union representatives and other stakeholders.
“There will be a 12-week period to give people time to submit their views on the changes.
“We would encourage as many people as possible to participate in public consultation process.”
A very high to extreme risk of wildfire remains in place across areas of Scotland today Monday, 12 May, the country’s fire and rescue service has warned.
Firefighters are currently tackling one major blaze near Fauldhouse in West Lothian. The fire broke out on Saturday.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has urged people who live within or who may enter rural environments to exercise caution.
Wildfires have the potential to burn for days and devastate vast areas of land and wildlife; and threaten the welfare of nearby communities.
SFRS Wildfire Lead Michael Humphreys said: “We are asking the public to exercise extreme caution and think twice before using anything involving a naked flame.
“Many rural and remote communities are hugely impacted by wildfires, which can cause significant damage.
“Livestock, farmland, wildlife, protected woodland and sites of special scientific interest can all be devastated by these fires – as can the lives of people living and working in rural communities.
“These fires can also have a hugely negative impact on the environment and the release of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.
“Human behaviour can significantly lower the chance of a wildfire starting, so it is crucial that people act safely and responsibly in rural environments and always follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.”
